Judge Blocks DOJ Search of Reporter's Seized Devices

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter ruled on February 24 that the Justice Department cannot search devices seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, ordering instead that the court conduct an independent review of the materials. The decision came after federal agents raided Natanson's Virginia home last month as part of an investigation into the unlawful disclosure of classified national security information.

The FBI executed the search warrant on January 14 at Natanson's residence, seizing her iPhone, two laptops, a digital recorder, a portable hard drive and a Garmin smartwatch. One laptop belonged to the newspaper, while the other was personal. Natanson, who covers federal government matters for The Post, is not accused of any wrongdoing. Prosecutors sought the devices to examine potential communications with Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a former government contractor charged last month with violating the Espionage Act by retaining and transmitting top-secret national defense information, including documents related to Venezuela. Authorities believe Natanson received some materials via the encrypted Signal app, where messages were set to delete automatically. Her...